Готель з привидами

           Thesecondtime,agreatphysicianjoinedmyowndoctorinattendanceonme.Heconsideredmyrecoveryalmostinthelightofamiracle.Takecareofyourself,"hesaid."Ifyouhaveathirdattackofbronchitis,ascertainlyastwoandtwomakefour,youwillbeadeadman.Ifeelthesameinwardshivering,myLady,thatIfeltonthosetwoformeroccasions—andItellyouagain,IhavecaughtmydeathinVenice."

           ’Speakingsomecomfortingwords,theBaronleadshimtohisroom.TheCountessisleftaloneonthestage.

           ’Sheseatsherself,andlookstowardsthedoorbywhichtheCourierhasbeenledout."Ah!mypoorfellow,"shesays,"ifyoucouldonlychangeconstitutionswithmyLord,whatahappyresultwouldfollowfortheBaronandforme!Ifyoucouldonlygetcuredofatrumperycoldwithalittlehotlemonade,andifhecouldonlycatchhisdeathinyourplace—!"

           ’Shesuddenlypauses—considersforawhile—andspringstoherfeet,withacryoftriumphantsurprise:thewonderful,theunparalleledideahascrossedhermindlikeaflashoflightning.Makethetwomenchangenamesandplaces—andthedeedisdone!Wherearetheobstacles?RemovemyLord(byfairmeansorfoul)fromhisroom;andkeephimsecretlyprisonerinthepalace,toliveordieasfuturenecessitymaydetermine.PlacetheCourierinthevacantbed,andcallinthedoctortoseehim—ill,inmyLord’scharacter,and(ifhedies)dyingundermyLord’sname!’

           ThemanuscriptdroppedfromHenry’shands.Asickeningsenseofhorroroverpoweredhim.